Boxoffice Podcast

In this episode of The Boxoffice Podcast, Daniel Loria, Chad Kennerk, Rebecca Pahle, and Albert Lawrence discuss the year’s biggest stories, trends, and moviegoing moments in theatrical exhibition for 2025. On the Story of the Year, the team discusses the potential sale of Warner Bros. and its implications for the industry at large. Warner Bros. is named Distributor of the Year for an all-time-great-caliber slate, and independent filmmaker is recognized as the Industry Figure of the Year for his defense and promotion of the theatrical experience. The Viral Marketing Campaign of the Year goes to A Minecraft Movie’s Chicken Jockey, and Sony’s Demon Slayer Infinity Castle is singled out as the box office surprise of the year. In this engaging conversation, the hosts discuss the standout performances of 2025, and their favorite movies and movie-going moments of the year.Give us your feedback on our podcast by accessing this survey: https://forms.gle/CcuvaXCEpgPLQ6d18 What to Listen For00:00 Intro 01:00 The Power of Collective Moviegoing02:15 2025 Industry Recap and Episode Overview03:10 Story of the Year Warner Bros Sale06:05 Netflix and Theatrical Windows Shift07:00 Movie of the Year Debate Minecraft vs Ne Zha 209:30 Industry Figure of the Year and Consolidation12:20 Exhibition Trends Event Cinema and Anime15:55 Distributor of the Year Warner Bros20:05 Viral Marketing of the Year Log Truck Campaign24:00 Viral Moviegoing Moment Chicken Jockey26:05 Anime Breakout and Demon Slayer Box Office28:50 Biggest Box Office Disappointments of 202533:00 Best Performances of the Year39:00 Favorite Moviegoing Moments48:00 Best Needle Drops in Movies51:30 Top Movies of 2025

This week on the Boxoffice podcast, presented by Barco, co-hosts Daniel Loria and Rebecca Pahle cover the latest industry news and preview upcoming releases like Avatar: Fire and Ash, along with its premium technology offerings. Then in the feature segment, Daniel talks to Barco Cinema’s vice president of marketing Adam Cassels to discuss the evolution of premium cinema technology, including the rollout of HDR by Barco.Give us your feedback on our podcast by accessing this survey: https://forms.gle/CcuvaXCEpgPLQ6d18 What to Listen For00:00 Intro 01:20 Warner Bros Acquisition Fallout04:25 Global PLF and Cinema Tech News08:10 Mega Entertainment Centers vs Micro Cinemas12:35 Zootopia 2 Hits One Billion13:20 Christmas Corridor Box Office Forecast14:05 Avatar Fire and Ash Opening Outlook19:50 SpongeBob The Housemaid and David26:00 Christmas Day New Releases29:05 Barco Cinema Interview Begins33:10 Laser and HDR Explained38:20 How HDR Changes Moviegoing45:20 Future of Premium Large Format51:00 Episode Wrap and Year End Preview

This week on the Boxoffice podcast, presented by Christie, co-hosts Daniel Loria, Rebecca Pahle, and Chad Kennerk recap the weekend box office, as well as break down what’s known and unknown about the Warner Bros. acquisition. In the feature segment sponsored by Christie, Rebecca talks to Allan Fernandes, product manager at Christie about their new RGBH projectors, as well as Christie’s variable dynamic range (VDR) technology, set to launch in 2026.Give us your feedback on our podcast by accessing this survey: https://forms.gle/CcuvaXCEpgPLQ6d18What to Listen For00:00 Intro 01:23 Netflix’s Winning Bid03:12 Paramount’s Countermove05:07 Theatrical Stakes06:42 Guilds Push Back07:55 The “Sh*t Sandwich” Reality08:47 Political Opposition10:14 Industry-Wide Consolidation12:03 Sarandos’ Theater Claims14:26 The 17-Day Window Problem17:03 Filmmaker Support Gaps19:12 Paramount’s 30-Film Promise21:34 Preparing for Change22:18 Box Office Highlights24:13 Avatar Forecast25:32 Christie’s New RGBH Projector30:47 Inside Christie VDR37:12 APAC Tech Innovation

This week on the Boxoffice podcast, presented by Qube Wire, co-hosts Daniel Loria, Rebecca Pahle, and Chad Kennerk recap the Thanksgiving holiday and take a weekend-by-weekend look ahead at the holiday 2025 box office. In the sponsored segment, Daniel speaks to Alan Christensen and Mark Waterston of Qube Cinema to discuss cloud-based distribution service Qube Wire and the recent expansion of their network domestically. Rebecca then interviews Emma Tammi, the director behind Blumhouse and Universal’s Five Nights at Freddy’s, in advance of the sequel’s December 5 release.Give us your feedback on our podcast by accessing this survey: https://forms.gle/CcuvaXCEpgPLQ6d18 What to Listen For00:00 Intro 00:34 Episode Overview: Zootopia 2 + December Lineup09:54 Thanksgiving Box Office Results10:00 Zootopia 2’s Domestic Opening11:03 Global Performance & China Records13:52 AMC & Regal Thanksgiving Records15:54 Wicked for Good Week 2 Drop Analysis18:12 Should Wicked Become a Franchise20:35 December Box Office Outlook20:45 Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Projections22:14 Avatar Fire and Ash Presales23:10 December Counterprogramming Strategy24:44 Christmas Day Releases Overview29:00 Cube Cinema Sponsored Segment47:00 Interview Emma Tammi (FNAF 2)47:59 FNAF 1 Box Office Breakout52:35 Animatronics with Henson Creature Shop

This week on the Boxoffice podcast, presented by Irwin, co-hosts Daniel Loria, Rebecca Pahle, and Chad Kennerk recap the opening weekend of Universal’s Wicked: For Good and preview the Thanksgiving holiday, with Zootopia 2 opening from Disney. In the feature segment, Rebecca speaks with Irwin’s Jack Powers about the December 2 release of the company’s new seating option Spectrum Aura. Learn more at irwinseating.comGive us your feedback on our podcast by accessing this survey: https://forms.gle/CcuvaXCEpgPLQ6d18 What to Listen For00:00 Intro 00:00 Holiday Rush & Cleaning Challenges for Theaters00:17 Wicked for Good’s Opening & Thanksgiving Weekend Preview01:00 Awards-Season Catch-Up: New & Noteworthy Releases04:39 Wicked for Good: Fan Response & Act Two Concerns07:25 Weekend Outlook: Thanksgiving Play Patterns & Forecasts08:11 Wicked’s Global Opening Numbers & Top Markets12:00 Premium Formats Break Records (IMAX, 4DX, ScreenX)12:45 Circuit Highlights: AMC, Regal, Marcus & International Records16:30 Feature Interview Intro: Jack Powers of Irwin Seating18:00 How Seating Impacts Operations During Peak Season24:00 Designing Comfort & Capacity for Modern Moviegoers26:45 New Product Spotlight: Spectrum Aura & Faster Auditorium Cleaning31:12 Renovations, Durability & Future-Proofing Theaters37:10 Aura Launch Details